Ahead of what is already shaping up to be a busy summer travel season, several airlines have canceled thousands of flights due to staffing issues.

“We are in the midst of a major pilot shortage,” said Lousson Smith, product operations specialist for Scott’s Cheap Flights. “We have flight attendant shortages. On the ground we have vacancies in ground staff and check-in staff… So overall the airline industry is really suffering from a lack of bodies to kind of fill those jobs.

Smith says travelers will likely have fewer flight options and the average fare is starting to rise.

“The good news is that cheap flights aren’t going away forever,” he said. “The bad news is that they’re practically gone for the summer.”

To get the best deal, Smith recommends booking at least a few months in advance, so now’s the time to plan a fall or summer getaway. If you don’t want to wait, Smith says you might want to consider international destinations.

“You can actually get more for your money by going overseas, in any direction,” he said. “Flights to Europe, they are not necessarily on sale but they are much cheaper than usual during the summer months.”

If an airline cancels your flight and you no longer wish to travel, you are entitled to a refund. You can read more about the Department of Transport’s rules regarding flight delays and cancellations here.

When it comes to flight delays, each airline has specific policies on what they will do for you. You can learn more about a specific airline’s policies by clicking on its contract of carriage in the links below.